Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-12

| 100 xx9DxO006 01V00 0O08O08 1OT VOtO10&
the Dependent Reunion Bin.
The following is the text OF tho presi
dents message, vetoing the Dependent Pen
sion bill:
TIE VETO MESSAGE.
To the House of Representatives:
herewith return. without my approval
House bill No. 10, ,457, entitled IAN act fol
the relief OF dependent parents and honor.
ably discharged soldiers and sailors who
are now disabled and dependent upon their
own labor for support
This il the first general bill that has been
sanctioned by Congress since the close ol
the late civil war, permitting pensions to
soldiers and sailors who served in that
war upon the ground of servics and present
disability alone and in entire absence ol
any injuries received by casualties or Incl.
dents Of such service. While by almost
constant legislation since the close OF this
war there has been compensation awarded
for every possible injury received ~ the re-
suit of military service in the Union army
and while great number of laws passed
for that purpose has been administered
with great liberality and has been supple
mented by numerous private acts to reach
special cases there has not until now been
an avowed departure from the principle thus
far adhered to respecting union soldiers;
that the bounty of the government in the
way OF pensions is generously bestowed
when granted to those who, in military
service or in the line of military duty, have
been greater or less disabled, but it is q
sions, such as are permitted by the second
section of the bill under consideration, are
new to our legislation. In 1880, thirty
five years after the close OF tho Revolu-
tionary war, they were granted to soldiers
engaged in that struggle, conditional upon
service until the end Of the. war, or for =
term of not less than nine years, and re.
quiring even the beneficiary, under the act,
to be one who is, or who, after, by reason
of his reduced circumstances in life, shall
be in need OF assistance from his country
for support. Another law OF like charac.
ter was passed in 1928, requiring serv-
ice to the "close of the Revolutionary
War;" and still another passed in 1882
provides for those persons not included in
the provisions Of the statute. but who
war, and giving proportionately to those
who had served not less than six months.
A Service Pension Law was passed for the
benefit Of the soldiers OF 1919, and in
the year 1871, Sc years after the close
of that war, which requiIsd only go
days service, aad another was passed
in 1878, sixty-three years after the war,
requiring only fourteen days service. The
Service Pension bill passed at this session
of Congress, thirty-seven years after tho
close of the Mexican war, for the benefit OF
the soldiers Of that war requires either
some degree of disability or dependency, or
that the claimant, under it's provisions,
should he 62 years Of age, and in either
case that he should have served sixty days
or been actively engaged in it.
It will be seen that the bill of 1918 and
the Mexican Pension bill being thus passed
nearer the close of the wars in which it's
benefciaries were engaged than the others
one thirty-five years and the other thirty
nine years after the termination OF such
wars embraced soldiers Of the Mexican
war and their widows up to June 80, 1885,
1919. This number of pensions was
granted to soldiers OF a war involving much
hardship for disabilities incurred as result
of such service, and it was not until
within the last month that the few re-
naming survivors were awarded service
pension: The war OF the rebellion termi
mated nearly twenty-five years ago. Tho
of men furnished for it's prosecu-
ton is said to be 2,772,480. No CORE
spending number Of statutes have been
OS6oOu lOI CtCIy hAAU "a AUlOAy OA uAOOOAo
ity incurred in military service anywhere.
Under the statutes 561.576 pen.
sions have been granted from the year
81 to June 80, 1886, and more than
26. 900 pensions have been added to the
rolls by private acts passed to meet cases,
many of them Of questionable merit.
Other laws appear to have been passed at
3 time so remote from the military service
Of the persons which they embraced that
their extreme age was deemed to supply
OF dependency and need. The
number of enlisted men in the Revolution
ary war was 1919, and in the war OF
1912. 81, 1862, but it is estimated that on
of repeated re-instatements the
number of individuals engaged in these
wars did not exceed half the number rep
by these figures. In the
var with Mexico, the number of
which represents q greater propo rtion OF
Individuals engaged than the reported en-
listment than in the two previous wars.
The number OF pensions granted under all
avs to soldiers of the Revolution is 62,-
)69, and to soldiers of the war OF 1912
and their widows COLTS. On the first
lay of July, 1885, 865,67 pensioners, of
Ill classes, were upon the pension rolls, OF
whom 3O5 sos were survivors OF the war
If the Rebellion and their widows and de.
oendents, for the year ending June 80,
1887.
Seventy five million dollars have been
this year for the payment OF
PENSIONS, and the amount expended for
hat purpose from 1861 to July 1, 1886,
8 $8OS, 1924, ,S11.51. While annually pay
eady quoted, it is now proposed by the
,ilI 11n6ar o0nQidoro tinr tn ri
tensions to soldiers OF all wars in which |
he United States had been engaged, in |
luding, of course, the war OF the
ebellion, and to pay those entitled
% the benefits of the act $12 per
month. So far as it relates
20 the soldiers OF the late civil war, the |
county it affords them is given thirteen |
1ears earlier than it has been furnished to |
he soldiers of any other war, and before q |
arge majority of it's bene6ciaries beyond |
he strength and vigor of the prime OF life.
t exacts only a military or naval service |
4 three months, without any requirement |
i actual engagement with an enemy in
'attls, and without subsection to any &C.
wards is allowed to enlisted men who |
ave suffered from the least injury, disa- |
,iity, loss or damage Of any kind incurred,
Il in any degree referred to the military (
ervice, Including those who never reached |
he front at all and those discharged from |
military rendezvous at the close OF the /
1ar, or discharged three months after on.
stment. Under tho last call of the presi- |
ent for troops, in December, 1864, H.
'O3 men were furnished who were thus dis
harged.
The section allowing this pension does
owever require, beside the service of three
1onths and an honorable discharge, that
hose seeking the benefit of this act shall
70 such ''as are now, or may hereafter be,
uffering from mental or physical disability,
ot the result of their own vicious habits
r gross carelessness, which incapacitatss
hem for the performance of labor in such
degree as to render them unable to earn
support, and who are dependent upon
,akiny q proof Of tho fact, shall beplaced
n the list of invalid pensioners of tho
nlted States, and be entitled to receive
,r such total inability to procure their
absistence by daily labor. $12 . month;
nd such psnsisn shall commence from the
ate OF the filing Of the application in the
ension Office. upon proof that tho disa-
ility then existed and continues to exist;
rovided that persons who are now re-
living pensions under existing laws, or
-